Urban Planning

Government goes slow on rainwater harvesting

Tuesday, 02 February 2010 10:52 administrator

The New Indian Express 02.02.2010

Government goes slow on rainwater harvesting

BANGALORE: The seriousness of government officials in implementing environment friendly schemes can be gauged from the interest they have shown in installing Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) systems in the buildings housing their offices.

Chief Secretary S V Ranganath and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) Chairman P B Ramamurthy sent a letter to 110 department heads in the city asking them to install RWH systems within three months.

So far, only nine departments have approached the BWSSB for technical assistance to install the RWH systems.

They are: City Central Libraries, Directorate of Youth and Sports, Directorate of Sericulture, Department of Forest development, Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies dept., Commissioner of Social Welfare Department, Health and Family Welfare Department, Department of Collegiate Education and the Department of Technical Education.

The letter dated October 15, 2009 had asked all principal secretaries, and department heads to call a meeting of officials from their department and direct them to install the RWH systems in their office buildings.

It had also stated that the state government is serious about implementing this program and has asked the department heads to approach the BWSSB for technical assistance at the earliest.

According to an amendment made by the state government to the BWSSB Act, all structures that are constructed in an area of 2,400 sq. ft and more should have RWH systems by May 27, 2010.

A BWSSB official said, “As per the instructions given to us by the government and the amendment made to the Act we will have to disconnect the water connections to those buildings that have come up in an area of 2,400 sq. ft and more if they do not have RWH systems in them.

“We will not discriminate between government and private buildings when it comes to implementing these rules.”

Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 February 2010 10:56

NMC to take over 232 more layouts from NIT

Monday, 01 February 2010 12:39 administrator

The Times of India 01.02.2010

NMC to take over 232 more layouts from NIT

Sachin Dravekar, TNN, 1 February 2010, 03:07am IST

NAGPUR: In a landmark decision that will bring cheer to thousands of residents in unauthorised layouts of city, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to take over another 232 of them for maintenance and development work. A proposal in this regard will be put up before NMC general body for its approval on February 3.

NMC has already taken over 176 unauthorised layouts from NIT and started development work on them. The 232
layouts that will be handed over to NMC are a part of 572 unauthorised or Gunthewari layouts that came up about two decades ago. They are located in Somalwada, Takli Sim, Bhamti, Dighori, Bidipeth, Chikhli Khurd, Harpur, Wathoda, Manewada, Babulkheda, Telangkhedi, Gorewada, Borgaon, Zingabai Takli, Police Line Takli, Parsodi, Dabha and Sakkardara areas. If given green signal by civic house, NMC will take charge of 408 layouts soon. It has also decided to take over the remaining layouts after some time.

Sources informed that NIT had collected regularisation charges from residents of these layouts. The fee was Rs 16 per square foot for open land and an additional Rs 6 per sq ft for construction. A large portion of the funds was spent by NIT in constructing roads, laying sewer and water pipelines and storm water drains. The remaining amount will be handed over to NMC after deducting administrative expenses.

NMC will use the money to complete the remaining development works. It will also provide civic amenities in these layouts. As per agreement between NMC and NIT, the building plans submitted by the plot owners would remain with NIT until state government ratified NMC’s takeover of the layouts. After NMC takes over the layouts, it would approve the plans. NMC would hand over 5% of the amount collected as building inspection charge and other levies to NIT after deducting administrative expenses. NIT will also handover the open spaces in all 408 layouts to NMC that could decide on their use as per rules. The house will also discuss the projects worth Rs 1139 crore submitted by NIT under JNNURM to NMC recently.

HC reprimands govt for delay in town planning scheme

Monday, 01 February 2010 11:51 administrator

Indian Express 01.02.2010

HC reprimands govt for delay in town planning scheme

Acting on a petition filed by five farmers from Surat, the Gujarat High Court recently reprimanded the state government for delay in sanctioning preliminary town planning schemes in the state.

The court of Justice M R Shah observed: “Time and again this court directed the state government and appropriate authority to see that town planning schemes are sanctioned and implemented at the earliest in the interest of the public at large. It appears that the message has not reached the appropriate authority inclusive of Chief Town Planner and the concerned department — Urban Development and Urban Housing Department.”

The petitioners approached the HC through their lawyer, K K Trivedi, after the state government did not take any decision on a preliminary town planning scheme in the area even four years after the town planning officer concerned had submitted the project to the state government for getting sanction in July 2005.

In the instance petition, the government had declared its intention to have a town planning scheme (TP Scheme No 19 at Katargam in Surat) in the concerned area in 1997. Subsequently, in July 1999, a town planning officer was appointed.

But till 2009, the government did not act on the plan submitted by the officer. Under the provisions of the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development Act, the state government is required to take appropriate decision within two months of getting such a report.

The HC disposed of the petition following submissions by the Assistant Government Pleader that the state government will take appropriate steps on the proposed scheme in six months.

With reference to the order, the court stated, “Any lapse on the part of the state government shall be viewed very seriously.”

Last Updated on Monday, 01 February 2010 11:53

More Articles...